MULTICHANNEL (INERAID(R)) COCHLEAR IMPLANT UPDATE

From April 1984 to May 1991, 49 profoundly deaf patients received impl antation of the Ineraid(R) multichannel cochlear implant at the Univer sity of Utah. The auditory results of 48 patients indicated improvemen t in mean pure-tone performance to 500 Hz (32.9 +/- 10.1 dB), 1000 Hz (27.1 +/- 10.0 dB), and 2000 Hz (30.1 +/- 9.8 dB). This group of patie nts had mean performances of 61.2% on auditory-only environmental soun ds (Minimum Auditory Capabilities [MAC] battery), 48.8% on auditory-on ly CID sentences, and 95.5% on auditory-plus-visual CID sentences. The percutaneous pedestal has been well-tolerated. Changes in the surgica l skin incisions have been made. A home use speech therapy program has been developed on VHS tapes.